In September and October 2014, British artist Alex Chinneck blew the minds of visitors to Covent Garden Piazza in London with a replica of the old local market that appears to… float in the air. The title of this work is Take My Lightning But Don't Steal My Thunder, and the installation process alone took four days. The building literally appeared split in two, and people could walk up to it without any risk, so… where's the trick?
The Secret of the Floating Building
Actually, I'm not convinced that the right word is "trick". Chinneck needed the help of more than 100 professionals to shape his artwork, including engineers, carpenters, and metallurgy experts. The structure is made of steel and Filcor, a variant of expanded polystyrene marketed by the British company Cordek.
The details regarding texture and stone-like appearance were achieved by covering the polystyrene surface with Jesmonite. The upper half remained in the air thanks to a four-ton counterweight, and I imagine the trained eye already has an idea of where it's hidden. Take My Lightning But Don't Steal My Thunder was taken down on October 24, 2014, but it is still remembered online with awe and admiration.
Gallery
